Chapter 26B - Capacitor

Circuits
A PowerPoint Presentation by
Paul E. Tippens, Professor of
Physics
Southern Polytechnic State
2007
University

Objectives: After completing

this module, you should be
able to:

Calculate the equivalent capacitance of a

number of capacitors connected in series
or in parallel.
Determine the charge and voltage across
any chosen capacitor in a network when
given capacitances and the externally
applied potential difference.

Electrical Circuit Symbols

Electrical circuits often contain two or
more capacitors grouped together and
attached to an energy source, such as
a battery.
The following symbols are often
used:
Ground
Battery
Capacitor
+

+ - + - + - + -

+
+

Series Circuits
Capacitors or other devices
connected along a single path are
said to be connected in series. See
circuit below:
Series
+ - + -+ connection of
+ - + -+ capacitors. +
C1
C
3
C2
to to +
Batter
Charge inside
y
dots is
induced.

Charge on Capacitors in
Series
Since inside charge is only induced,
the charge on each capacitor is the
same.
Q1
+
+

C1

Q2

- +
- +

Q3
-+
-+

C2
Batter
y

C3

Charge is
same: series
connection of
capacitors.
Q = Q 1 = Q2
=Q3

Voltage on Capacitors in
Series

Since the potential difference between

points A and B is independent of path,
the battery voltage V must equal the
sum of the voltages across each
capacitor.
V1 V2 V3
+
+

C1

- +
- +

-+
-+

C2
Batter
y

Total voltage V
Series
C3 connection Sum
of voltages
B

V = V1 + V2 +
V3

Equivalent Capacitance:
Series
V1

+
+

V2

- +
- +

C1

C2

V3

-+
-+

Q
Q
C ; V
V
C

C3

V = V1 + V2 + V3

Q1= Q2 = Q3

Q Q1 Q2 Q3

C C1 C2 C3

1
1
1
1

Ce C1 C2 C3

Equivalent
Ce for
capacitors
in series:

nn
11
11

CCee ii11 CCii

Example 1. Find the equivalent

capacitance of the three capacitors
connected in series with a 24-V battery.
nn
C1 C2
C3
1
11
1
Ce for

+ - + -+
C
C
series: Cee i i 11 Ci i
+ - + -+ -

1
1
1
1

Ce 2 F 4 F 6 F
1
0.500 0.250 0.167
Ce
1
1
0.917 or Ce
Ce
0.917

2
F

4
F

6
F

24 V

CCee =
= 1.09
1.09
F
F

Example 1 (Cont.): The equivalent

circuit can be shown as follows with
single Ce.
nn
Ce
11
11
C1 C2 C3

+ - + -+
C
i
Cee i 11 CCi i
+ - + -+ -

1.09
F

2 F 4 F 6
F
24 V

CCee =
= 1.09
1.09
F
F

24 V

Note that the equivalent

capacitance Ce for capacitors in
series is always less than the least
in the circuit. (1.09 F < 2 F)

Example 1 (Cont.): What is the total

charge and the charge on each
capacitor?
Ce
C1 C2 C3
CCee =
= 1.09
1.09
+ - + -+ F
+ - + -+ F
2 F 4 F 6
F
24 V

1.09
F

24 V

Q
C
V
Q CV

Q
QT = CeV = (1.09 F)(24
QTT=
= 26.2C
26.2C
V);
For series
Q
Q
Q
26.2
Q
=
Q
=
Q
=
26.2
11 =
22 =
33 =
circuits: QT = Q1
C
C
= Q2 = Q3

Example 1 (Cont.): What is the voltage

across each capacitor?

Q
Q
C ; V
C1 C2 C3
V
C
+ - + -+ + - + -+ Q1 26.2 C
2 F 4 F 6
V1

13.1 V
F
C1
2 F
24 V
Q2 26.2 C
V2

6.55 V
C2
4 F
Q3 26.2 C
V3

4.37 V
VVTT=
= 24
24 VV
C3
6 F
Note:
Note: VVTT =
= 13.1
13.1 VV +
+ 6.55
6.55 VV +
+ 4.37
4.37 VV =
=
24.0
24.0 VV

Short Cut: Two Series

Capacitors
The equivalent capacitance C

for two
series capacitors is the product divided
by the sum.
e

1
1
1
;
Ce C1 C2

CC11CC22
CCee
CC11 CC22

Exampl
e:

(3 F)(6 F)
Ce
3 F 6 F

C1
+ + 3 F

C2
+ + 6
F

CCee =
= 22
F
F

Parallel Circuits

+
+

+
+

+
+

Capacitors which are all connected to

the same source of potential are said
to be connected in parallel. See
below:
Parallel
Voltages:
capacitors: + to
VT = V1 = V2 =
+; - to -
V3
C1
C2
C3
Charges:
- - - QT = Q1 + Q2 +
Q3

Equivalent Capacitance:
Parallel

Q
C ; Q CV
V

- -

- -

Ce = C1 + C2 +
C3

+
+

+
+

+
+

Parallel
capacitors in
Parallel:
C
C
C
3

- -

Q = Q1 + Q2 +
Q3

Equal Voltages:

CV = C1V1 + C2V2 +
C3V3
nn
Equivalent
CCee CCii
Ce for
ii11
capacitors
in parallel:

Example 2. Find the equivalent

capacitance of the three capacitors
connected in parallel with a 24-V
VT = V1 = V2 =
nn
battery.
Ce for C
Q = Q1V+ Q2 +
Cee CCi i
3
i i11
paralle
Q3
24
l:
C C2 C
V
Ce = (2 + 4 + 6)
3
1
2 F 4 F
6
F
F
CCee =
= 12
12 F
F

Note that the equivalent capacitance

Ce for capacitors in parallel is always
greater than the largest in the circuit.
(12 F > 6 F)

Example 2 (Cont.) Find the total charge

QT and charge across each capacitor.
CCee =
= 12
12 F
F

Q = Q1 + Q2 +
Q3

24
V

C C2

2 F 4 F

QT = CeV
QT = (12 F)(24
V)
Q
QTT =
= 288
288
C
C

6
F

V1 = V2 = V3 = 24
Q V

; Q CV

Q1 = (2 F)(24 V) = 48
C
Q1 = (4 F)(24 V) = 96

QC = (6 F)(24 V) = 144
1

Example 3. Find the equivalent

capacitance of the circuit drawn below.

C3,6
24
V

C1

4 F

24
V
4 F

C1

C2

3 F

C3

6
F

C3,6

2 F

(3 F)(6 F)

2 F
3 F 6 F

Ce = 4 F + 2 F
CCee=
= 66
F
F
24
V

Ce

6 F

Example 3 (Cont.) Find the total charge

QT.
CCee=
= 66
F
F
24
C1 C2
3 F
Q = CV = (6 F)(24
V
V)
4 F
C3
6
Q
=
144
C
Q
=
144
C
T
F
T

24
V
4 F

C1

C3,6

2 F

24
V

Ce

6 F

Example 3 (Cont.) Find the charge Q4

and voltage V4 across the the 4F
capacitor
VV44 =
= VVTT =
= 24
24
VV
24
C1 C2
3 F
Q4 = (4 F)(24
V
4 F
C3
6
V)
Q
F
Q44=
= 96
96
C
C
The remainder of the charge: (144 C
96 C) is on EACH of the other capacitors.
(Series)
This
can
also
be
found
This
can
also
be
found
Q
Q33 =
=Q
Q66 =
= 48
48
from
V
=
(2
F)
from Q
Q=
= CC3,6
V
=
(2
F)
3,6
3,6 3,6
C
C
(24
(24 V)
V)

Example 3 (Cont.) Find the voltages

across the 3 and 6-F capacitors
Q
Q33 =
=Q
Q66=
= 48
48
C
C 48 C
V3
16.0V
24
C1 C2
3 F
3 F
V
4 F

C3

6
F

48 C
V6
8.00V
6 F

Note:
Note: VV33 +
+ VV66 =
= 16.0
16.0 VV +
+ 8.00
8.00 VV =
=
24
24 VV
Use
Use these
these techniques
techniques to
to find
find voltage
voltage and
and
capacitance
capacitance across
across each
each capacitor
capacitor in
in aa
circuit.
circuit.

Summary: Series Circuits

nn

11
11

CCee i
C
i11 Cii

Q
Q=
=Q
Q11 =
=Q
Q22 =
=
Q
Q33
VV =
= VV11 +
+ VV22 +
+
VV33

For two capacitors at a

time:

CC11CC22
CCee
CC11 CC22

Summary: Parallel Circuits

nn

CCee
CCii
ii11

Q
Q=
=Q
Q11 +
+Q
Q22 +
+
Q
Q33
VV =
= VV11 =
= VV22 =V
=V33

For
For complex
complex circuits,
circuits, reduce
reduce the
the circuit
circuit in
in
steps
steps using
using the
the rules
rules for
for both
both series
series and
and
parallel
parallel connections
connections until
until you
you are
are able
able to
to
solve
solve problem.
problem.

CONCLUSION: Chapter 26B

Capacitor Circuits